2026 comparison
Châlons-en-Champagne vs Charleville-Mézières: 2026 comparison
Charleville-Mézières has more inhabitants than Châlons-en-Champagne: 46,473 versus 43,914, or 5.8% more. Charleville-Mézières covers a larger area (31.4 km² versus 26.1 km²), but Châlons-en-Champagne is more densely populated: 1,686 inhabitants per km² versus 1,478.
The median apartment price is higher in Châlons-en-Champagne: €1,395 per m² versus €1,260. The median standard of living is higher in Châlons-en-Champagne (€22,530 a year versus €20,390).
The two cities are 94 km apart as the crow flies.
Châlons-en-Champagne
City in Marne
- Population
- 43,914 inhab.
- 175th in France · 2nd in its department
- Area
- 26.1 km²
- Density
- 1,686 per km²
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Charleville-Mézières
City in Ardennes
- Population
- 46,473 inhab.
- 157th in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 31.4 km²
- Density
- 1,478 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1876
Châlons-en-ChampagneCharleville-Mézières
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Charleville-Mézières+6% | 43,914 | 46,473 | More populous: Charleville-Mézières+6% |
| Change over 5 yearsSmaller decline: Charleville-Mézières+1.1 pt | −2.9% | −1.8% | Smaller decline: Charleville-Mézières+1.1 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsSmaller decline: Châlons-en-Champagne+2.7 pts | −4.3% | −7.0% | Smaller decline: Châlons-en-Champagne+2.7 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Châlons-en-Champagne+14% | 1,686 | 1,478 | Denser: Châlons-en-Champagne+14% |
| Under 15More young people: Charleville-Mézières+0.1 pt | 16.0% | 16.1% | More young people: Charleville-Mézières+0.1 pt |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Charleville-Mézières+2.3 pts | 21.1% | 23.5% | More seniors: Charleville-Mézières+2.3 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Charleville-Mézières+0.06 | 1.87 | 1.93 | Larger households: Charleville-Mézières+0.06 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Châlons-en-Champagne+11% | 1,395 | 1,260 | More expensive: Châlons-en-Champagne+11% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Châlons-en-Champagne+7% | 1,767 | 1,644 | More expensive: Châlons-en-Champagne+7% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Châlons-en-Champagne+16% | 11.1 | 9.6 | More expensive: Châlons-en-Champagne+16% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Châlons-en-Champagne+16% | 10.2 | 8.8 | More expensive: Châlons-en-Champagne+16% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Châlons-en-Champagne+1.6 pt | 36.7% | 35.1% | More homeowners: Châlons-en-Champagne+1.6 pt |
| Share of housesMore houses: Charleville-Mézières+2.0 pt | 30.8% | 32.8% | More houses: Charleville-Mézières+2.0 pt |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residencesMore social housing: Châlons-en-Champagne+3.4 pts | 51.0% | 47.6% | More social housing: Châlons-en-Champagne+3.4 pts |
| Second homesMore second homes: Châlons-en-Champagne+0.2 pt | 2.5% | 2.4% | More second homes: Châlons-en-Champagne+0.2 pt |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Charleville-Mézières+5.3 pts | 7.4% | 12.6% | More vacant homes: Charleville-Mézières+5.3 pts |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+11 pts | 44.04% | 55.47% | Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+11 pts |
Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, Ministry for the Ecological Transition (SRU), DGFiP, local taxation
Income and jobs
Residents’ income and jobs
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median standard of living €/yearHigher: Châlons-en-Champagne+10% | 22,530 | 20,390 | Higher: Châlons-en-Champagne+10% |
| Poverty rateHigher: Charleville-Mézières+7.1 pts | 24.5% | 31.6% | Higher: Charleville-Mézières+7.1 pts |
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Châlons-en-Champagne+8% | €24,283 | €22,491 | Higher: Châlons-en-Champagne+8% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Châlons-en-Champagne+5.3 pts | 41% | 36% | More taxpaying households: Châlons-en-Champagne+5.3 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Châlons-en-Champagne+3.1 pts | 72.5% | 69.3% | Higher: Châlons-en-Champagne+3.1 pts |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Charleville-Mézières+7.3 pts | 14.7% | 22.0% | Higher: Charleville-Mézières+7.3 pts |
Sources: INSEE, Filosofi, DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Benoist Apparu | Boris Ravignon | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections)Same | miscellaneous right | miscellaneous right | Same |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Châlons-en-Champagne+1.2 pt | 98% | 97% | Better covered: Châlons-en-Champagne+1.2 pt |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Charleville-Mézières+18% | 62.2273 in total | 73.6342 in total | More shops per capita: Charleville-Mézières+18% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+22% | 19.887 in total | 24.1112 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+22% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+68% | 25.0110 in total | 42.2196 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+68% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Châlons-en-Champagne+33% | 26.9118 in total | 20.294 in total | More per capita: Châlons-en-Champagne+33% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Châlons-en-Champagne+21% | 3.616 in total | 3.014 in total | More per capita: Châlons-en-Champagne+21% |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+4% | 2.310 in total | 2.411 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+4% |
| Passenger train stationsMore stations: Charleville-Mézières+1 | 1 | 2 | More stations: Charleville-Mézières+1 |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Charleville-Mézières+15% | 4.0 | 4.7 | Better access: Charleville-Mézières+15% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+33% | 6.127 in total | 8.238 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+33% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+15% | 19.184 in total | 21.9102 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+15% |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Châlons-en-Champagne+3% | 7.533 in total | 7.334 in total | More per capita: Châlons-en-Champagne+3% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+6% | 3.616 in total | 3.918 in total | More per capita: Charleville-Mézières+6% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Charleville-Mézières+6 | 7 | 13 | More facilities: Charleville-Mézières+6 |
Practitioners and facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print); access to doctors includes those in neighboring communes. Sources: Ministry of Health (DREES), APL, INSEE, facilities database (BPE), Ministry of Health (Finess)
Education
Schools and colleges
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Charleville-Mézières+7 | 23 | 30 | More schools: Charleville-Mézières+7 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Charleville-Mézières+6 | 5 | 11 | More middle schools: Charleville-Mézières+6 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Charleville-Mézières+1 | 7 | 8 | More high schools: Charleville-Mézières+1 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Charleville-Mézières+5 | 10 | 15 | More facilities: Charleville-Mézières+5 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Charleville-Mézières+46% | 4.6 | 6.7 | Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+46% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+24% | 10.4 | 12.9 | Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+24% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+12% | 7.1 | 7.9 | Higher rate: Charleville-Mézières+12% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Châlons-en-Champagne+36% | 2.3 | 1.7 | Higher rate: Châlons-en-Champagne+36% |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Châlons-en-Champagne+17% | 16.0 | 13.7 | Higher rate: Châlons-en-Champagne+17% |
Offenses recorded in the commune by the police and gendarmerie, per 1,000 inhabitants (per 1,000 homes for burglaries); this is not the actual crime level. Rates for the latest published year. Source: Ministry of the Interior (SSMSI)
Climate
Temperature, sunshine and rain
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Châlons-en-Champagne+1.3 °C | 11.2°C | 9.9°C | Warmer: Châlons-en-Champagne+1.3 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,576 | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Charleville-Mézières+47% | 632 | 928 | Wetter: Charleville-Mézières+47% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Charleville-Mézières+18 days/year | 115 | 132 | More rainy days: Charleville-Mézières+18 days/year |
| Frost days days/yearMore frost days: Charleville-Mézières+25 days/year | 54 | 80 | More frost days: Charleville-Mézières+25 days/year |
| Very hot days days/year 30 °C or moreMore hot days: Châlons-en-Champagne+7 days/year | 14 | 7 | More hot days: Châlons-en-Champagne+7 days/year |
Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals
Natural hazards
Natural disasters and prevention
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Charleville-Mézières+15 | 5 | 20 | More declarations: Charleville-Mézières+15 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Châlons-en-Champagne+1 | 2 | 1 | More plans: Châlons-en-Champagne+1 |
| Radon potentialSame | Low | Low | Same |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Charleville-Mézières+21% | 26.1 | 31.4 | Larger: Charleville-Mézières+21% |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Charleville-Mézières+63 m | 84 m | 147 m | Higher: Charleville-Mézières+63 m |
| Coastal communeSame | No | No | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE)Same | Intermediate urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | Same |
| Department | Marne (51) | Ardennes (08) | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération de Châlons-en-Champagne | Ardenne Métropole | |
| Urban unit | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières | |
| Functional area | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Châlons-en-Champagne vs Charleville-Mézières at a glance
| Criterion | Châlons-en-Champagne | Charleville-Mézières |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 43,914 | 46,473 |
| Change over 10 years | −4.3% | −7.0% |
| Density per km² | 1,686 | 1,478 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 1,395 | 1,260 |
| Median house price €/m² | 1,767 | 1,644 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 11.1 | 9.6 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 44.04% | 55.47% |
| Median standard of living €/year | 22,530 | 20,390 |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 14.7% | 22.0% |
| Premises with fiber | 98% | 97% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 4.6 | 6.7 |
| Average temperature | 11.2°C | 9.9°C |
| Sunshine h/year | — | 1,576 |
| Area km² | 26.1 | 31.4 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Châlons-en-Champagne vs Charleville-Mézières: your questions
Which is the larger city, Châlons-en-Champagne or Charleville-Mézières?
By population, Charleville-Mézières: 46,473 inhabitants versus 43,914 for Châlons-en-Champagne (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Charleville-Mézières is the 157th largest city in France, Châlons-en-Champagne the 175th. By area, Charleville-Mézières is also the larger (31.4 km²).
How far is Châlons-en-Champagne from Charleville-Mézières?
Châlons-en-Champagne and Charleville-Mézières are 94 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes.
Where is real estate more expensive, in Châlons-en-Champagne or Charleville-Mézières?
To buy an apartment, Châlons-en-Champagne is more expensive: €1,395 per m² (median price), versus €1,260 in Charleville-Mézières (+11%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Where is the standard of living higher, in Châlons-en-Champagne or Charleville-Mézières?
In Châlons-en-Champagne, half of the residents have a standard of living above €22,530 a year, versus €20,390 in Charleville-Mézières (disposable income per consumption unit, INSEE).
Are Châlons-en-Champagne and Charleville-Mézières in the same department?
No: Châlons-en-Champagne is in Marne (51), and Charleville-Mézières in Ardennes (08), both in the Grand Est region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures